Sheet feeding and driving means



' April 3,1923.

Filed Oct. 3. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April '3, 1928. 1,664,640

C. L. POST SHEET FEEDING AND DRIVING MEANS Filed Oct. 3. 1924 '3 Shuts-Sheet 2 April 3, 1.928. 1364.640

v C. L. POST SHEET FEEDING AND DRIVING MEANS .Filed Oct. 5. 1924 6 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jnverziv7- laud6 L. P05

by (Wis 4s Patented Apr. 3, 1928. I l I l v "UNITED-STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

CLAUDE L. ros'r, or cHIcAGo, ILIJNoI's.

. SHEET FEEDING AND DRIvI-NG'M'EANs.

. Application filed October 3, 1924. Serial No. 741,426.

My invention belongs to that general class manually turning over the machines. Many of devices known as sheet feeding and driv other objects and advantages .of the coning means, and relates more particularly to struction herein shown and described will a controlling means particularly adapted for be obvious to those skilled'in the art from use in connection with a printing press or the disclosures herein given.

the like of the type described in my pend- To this end my invention. consists in the ing application, Serial No. 627,455, which is novelconstruction, arrangemei'it andcombioperated at high speeds. .The present innation ofparts hereinshown'and described, vention is in the nature of a supplementary; and more particularly pointed out in the driving control whereby the operator can at claims. f Y

will operate the machine by power and yet .In' the drawings, wherein like reference control the same. in such a manner that the characters indicate like 01- corresponding same may be operated in one or more steps parts: I to vary the relative'positions of the, parts. Fig. 1. is a sectional View taken substans without requiring turning,themachine over tiallyon line 1"f1. of Fig. 2, showing a porby hand to'get slight movements. In ad v tion of the entire press; V V justing the parts, feeding mechanism, dis- Fig.2 is a top plan view of thesame; tributing the inl; on the rolls, etc., it is de- Fig. 3, is a; sectional view through a porsirable to turn the machine slowly, as retion of the disc 5., showing in dotted lines 20 quircd, instead of drivingthe same at more Changed positions; 7 I or less high speed. With my improved Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 41 of mechanism ofthe type shown in the appli- Fig. 2; r v v y I cation referred to, the printing mechanism Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of is automatically cut outwhen there are no lfii'gif;

sheets going through the machine or feed- Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 0t ing ceases due to a gummed envelope not F 1g. 5; p i H V feeding. Consequently, it has been custom- Fig. 7 IS a sectlon taken on line 77 of ary heretofore to turn over the drive wheel Fig.;5; v I V g or disc by hand in flClJUStHIg the plate or .Fig. 8 18 an enlarged fragmentary eleva- .2 0 type and the various other parts of the tion of a portion of the apparatus shown in Y mechanism which can best be done by mov- Fig. 4; and ing the parts slowly and watching their sev- Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a latch eral movements. A sheet, envelope or the member forming part of the illustrated emlilte may be fed up to the printing roll bodiment of the invention; 7

slowly in adjusting the parts or trying out .Referring to the drawings, in which the 5 the adjustments of the printing mechanism. preferred embodiment of my invention is The present invention relates particularly shown, 1 represents parts of a press frame,

to an improved construction wherein the op- 2 type roll, and 3 the impression roll, it be. crator may employ the power for controling understood that these parts are con- 40 ling the machine in a step-by-step action or structed as desired. Power is transmitted to operate it slowly. The invention has to these rolls, as well as to the inking rolls among its objects the production of a mechand other mechanism through a drive shaft anism of the kind described that is simple. 4, driven by a disc 5 suitably mounted on the compact, reliable, efficient and satisfactory shaft. As sh0wn,.the shaft is carried at the 45 for use wherever found applicable. More drive end by hearing 6, 7 being a spring particularly it has as an object the producbearing against the disc and a head on the tion of a control mechanism that will permit shaft tending to normally. move the disc into the operator to control the machine and opdriving engagement with the friction wheel erate the same by a step-by-step movement 8, suitable mechanism hereinafter referred so whenever desired by power rather than by to being employed to control the engagement of the friction wheel with the disc during the operation of the machine and feeding of the sheets, envelopes or the like, between the printing roll 2 and impression roll As shown, the friction wheel 8 is slidably mounted on the shaft 9, which is driven by p a motor 11 or equivalent means for the purpose. The sliding movement of the friction wheel 8 on shaft 9 may be controlled in any suitable manner, that shown consisting of an arm 14 mounted on shaft 12, to which may be attached a shifting lever 13.

The construction of this mechanism may be as described in my pending application Serial No. 7 00,403, or in an equivalent manner. As the friction wneel is moved toward or from the shaft 4, obviously the speed of the machine is varied, that is, increased or decreased, depending upon the direction of movement. Thedriving engagement, however, is normally controlled by a lever 18 in the manner described in my above mentioned applications. When. material is beingfed through the press, the disc 5 is maintained in engagement with the friction wheel 8, so that as the motor is driven, shaft 4 is rotated, driving the press and feeding mechanism. When there is nothing being fed through the press, however, di sc5is auto matically thrown and maintained out of engagement with the face 17 of the disc. In-

adjusting the plates or slugs on the printing roll, adjusting the feeding mechanism,inking the rolls, or feeding up new sheets, it'is frequently desirable to move the mechanism of the machine in a step-by-step movement or small portion of the travel of the "parts, and heretofore it has been customary to grasp the disc and turn it by hand. This is inconvenient, and I have therefore provided an arrangement whereby the power may be employed for this purpose.

Referring to Fig. 3, 19 represents a flange on the disc 5, which I prefer to providewith an inclined face 20. With the machine stopped and the friction wheel, for example, in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, there is no movement of the disc. If, however, the friction wheel is shifted toward the outer edge of the disc, it will engage with the face of the projecting flange 19, the inclined face 20 permitting the same to ride upon the face so'that the machine will be driven by power and'at a slower speed than if engaged with the face 17. By bringing the friction wheel into engagement with the face on the flange for one or more short intervals, or continuously, if desired, the throw-off mechanism, including the lever 18, does not perform its function, causing the machine to stop, although in operative st ippi1igposition. WVhen the disc is moved toward shaft 42, the disc engages with the flange, the automatic throw-off mechanism is then operative and maintains the disc 5 out of engagement with the friction wheel. The operator thus has an independent control by means of which the machine may be operated in the usual manner free from the automatic control Without feeding, or, step-by-step without subjecting the drive to the automatic control. It is also conbe oscillated to lower the rotational axis of the roll 3 and thus separate the rolls 2 and 3.

For actuating the eccentric journals simultaneously, a gear segment is operatively connected to the lever 28 and is adapted to mesh with a pinion 31 mounted on a shaft 32 extending across the frame 1, the

other end of the shaft 32 having a pinionthereon similar to the pinion 31 and intermeshing with a gear segment thereat rigidly connected to the eccentric bushing at the adjacent end of the roll 3.

A cam member 35 is drivingly' connected to the shaft of the roll 2, but is slidable longitudina-lly thereof, said cam being of such contour that it will operate the lever 28 only when rotating in the same plane therer with. An abutment or stationary'cam 36 is carried on the frame 1 to engage the r'otary cam 35 and retrieve it out of registry with the lever 28, but guiding it into registry with. the lever whenever said slidable cam 35 is moved longitudinally of the shaft of the i type roll (to the right). A coiled spring 38 is interposed between the rotary cam and the adjacent end of the type roll in order to constantly urge the rotary cam'to the right I engagement with the le and into operative ver 28. 1

As the lever 28 is intended to be oscillated only when there are no envelopes passing 1 through the printing rolls, means must be provided for normally preventing such operation and for automatically moving the cam 35 to actuate the lever when the passage of envelopes is interrupted. .For'this purpose, a slotted lug or pin 39 is fixed to x the rotary cam 35, the slot-therein being indicated at 40. This pin is rigidly carried by the cam and projects inwardly of the inner side thereof (see Figs. 1, 5 and 7).

A rocker shaft 42 is mounted on the sta-- tionary framework adjacent the printing rolls, and intermediate the ends of said rocker shaft there is carried an arm 43 which extends in the path of envelopes passing to the printing rolls, the shaft 42 being freely actuation thereof.

mounted in its end bearings so that when an envelope is passing beneath the arm, said arm will be raised or lifted by the envelope, and when there is no envelope beneath the arm, it will drop, due to gravity, and rock the shaft i2.

A lever or arm 4A shaft 42 adjacent the rotatable cam 35 and is adapted to engage with a-catch or lock member or arm 45 pivotally carried by the roll 2 as shown more clearly in Figs. 4t, 5 and9. The width-of the catch member is such that it may enter the slot 40 formed in the pint-39 and hold the cain member in its retrieved position against the outwardly exerted pressure of the spring 38. I

The operation of the means for separating the printing rolls is as follows: Assuiiiing that thereis no envelope in readiness for insertion between the printing rolls and that the rolls are rotating, it will be seen that the spring 38 constantly presses the rotary cam toward the stationary cam. vThe arm 44 will then be in the position indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 5. The continued rota" tionof the cam will cause it to slide off the stationaryfcam.and engage with the lever 28 toactuate it to cause separation of the rolls. Oil-account of the centrifugal force the look ing pin .:5 will be thrown out of the slot 40 and the cam will be released thereby to actuate the eccentric bushings. A spring 48 may be positioned to engage the lever 28 to return it to its normal position after each lVhen there is no envelope between the olls, the catch hits the arm 44, which is then in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, but the catch is not moved suiii ciently on its pivot to re-engage in the slot 40, and thus the cam 35 will not be locked but: will ride'over the cam 36 to the crestthereof into its retrieved position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, whereupon in case there is still no envelope in position to pass through the printing rolls, the catch will again hit the arm 4 lbut fail to enter the slot, and the printing rollswill' again separate. As soon as an envelope is in position for insertion between the rolls, the envelopesiipported arm 43 will be lifted to rock the arm 44 to the full line position shown in Fig. 5 whereupon it may engage. with the catch 45, this time causing said catch to en" ter into the slot and retain the movable cam locked in its'retrieved position. Thus, in each rotation of printing rolls, the latch is released through centrifugal force and in .2188 the feed of envelopes is uninterrupted the lock will be pressed back into the slot just as the rotary cam is at the end of its ride over the stationary cam and again lock said cam in place. However, in case the feed of envelopes is interrupted, the released latch will not be pushed back into the slot but is carried by the rock ing means in operative engagement. A. bracket as is carried by the frame, either integral therewith or as a separate part, and having a bore through which the shaft 4 extends. The rock-shaft 82 has a rocker arm or crank 49 at its end, the same formed with an elongated opening or slot 50 therethrough. The lever 18 is arranged between the disc 5 and the bracket 48 forming an end-bearing" for said disc or drive-wheel. A radial pro ection 54 is formed atthe upper end "of the lever 18 and a corresponding re V cess 55 is formed in the opposed surface of the stationary bracket 48, as shown, so that when the projection 54 is seated in the recess 55, the friction disc 5 will be in operative engagement with the friction drivingwheel 8, the spring 7tending to keep the parts in such engagement.

It is obvious thatif the 1ever18 is rocked aboutthe shaft l-, the projection 54 will become unseatedfrom the recess 55, causing the lever to move to theright ig. 4) to move the friction-disc 5 against'the action driving-wheel 8 and thus shut off the drive of the shaft 4. The lower end of the lever 18 is formed with a hook 56, which is adapt ed to be removably inserted through the slot 50 of the member 49.

lVhenever the eccentric bushings 27 are rotated to separate the rolls 2 and 3, the shaft 32 is rocked and the lever 18 is correspondingly rocked about the shaft 4, the lever 18 being moved laterally to release the driving wheels 5 and 8 from engagement. Assoon as the shaft 352 resumes its normal position, the projection 5ft will again seat inihegroove 55, the spring 7 tending to hold it in place. I

The machine is preferably placed in operation with the wheel 8 in engagenient with the flange 19 and then it is advanced into engagement with the face 17 after the sheets being printed have commenced to pass between the rolls 2 and 3..

I prefer to arrange between the driving mechanism proper and the motor a cutoff saw '25. provided with a table 2 1-. This mechanism is arranged at this point so that 'it may be operated regardless of the operavtion ofthe machine or simultaneously there- .w th'; Its purpose is to provide a mechanism whereby plates or linotype slugs or the like 'iuu of the spring out of engagement with the may be trimmed or cut to size. Ordinarily, the saw 25 is covered with a hood or guard (not shown) so as to prevent accidental engagen'ieiit therewith. v

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications maybe made inthe same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understod as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts here in shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described and in combination, printing means, and means for driving said printing means comprising a drive wheel. and. a friction wheel movable radially of said drive wheel, said drive wheel normally movable laterally to engage or dis engage from the friction wheel, said drive wheel provided at its outer edge with an annular flange forming an auxiliary driving face operable to engage with the friction wheel when the drive wheel is moved laterally to its normally inoperative position and the friction wheel is moved opposite the auxiliary drive face, and means for driving the friction wheel.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, driving mechanism comprising'adriven element and a driving element, said elements each relatively adjustable whereby movement of one element away from the other disengages them from operative relation, and movement of the other element engages them when the said first element is moved in a normally inoperative driving position, and one of said elements having a cylindrical face engageable with the other element in each of the driving positions.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a driven member and a driving member, said driven member normally n'iovable to engage or disengage from the driving member, said driven member provided with. an auxiliary driving face operable to engage with the driving member and in combination, a drive wheel and a friction wheel, said. drive wheel normally movable laterally to engage or disengage from the friction wheel, an annular flange at the outer edge of said drive wheel extending laterally therefrom, an inclined face on the inner edge of said flange, said flange forming an auxiliary driving face operable to engage with the friction wheel when the drive wheel is moved laterally to its normally inoperative position, said friction wheel riding over the inclined face to a position opposite the auxiliary drive face, and means for driving the friction wheel. I

5. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a drive wheel and a drive face thereon, a friction wheel engageable with said drive wheel, said drive wheel mov-' able out of driving engagement with said friction wheel and provided with a flange at the edge, means for automatically throwing the drive wheelout of engagement, said' friction wheel movable to engage said flange when the drive wheel. is 1n its normally out of engagement position with the friction wheel, whereby the drive wheel may be driven independently of th automatic throw-off means.

6. In a device of the kind described and in combinatlon, a drive shaft, a driving wheel thereon consisting of a disc adjustable longitudinally of said shaft and provided with a normal drive face and an auxiliary driving face, a power shaft, a friction wheel on said power shaft thereon movable longitudinally of the power shaft and operable, to engage the normal driving face when the drive wheel is in, its normal driving position,

face, automatically operable controlling means therefor, a power shaft provided with a friction wheel thereon movable longitudinally of the shaft and operable to engage the normal driving face when the drive wheel is in its normal driving position, or to engage the auxiliary face when the drivewheel is automatically moved to its normally inoperative position.

8. In a device 'of the kind described and in combination, a drive shaft, a drive wheel on said drive shaft, a second wheel drivingly engageable with said drive wheel, means for resiliently holding said wheels in operative engagement, means automatically operable to release the drive means, said first-mentioned drive wheel provided with a flanged portion engageable by the driving wheel when out of normal engagement with the drive wheel, and means for controlling the drive wheel to bring the same in or out of engagement with said flange at will.

9. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a drive shaft, a drive wheel on said drive shaft, a second wheel drivingly engageable with said drive wheel, means for resiliently holding said Wheels in oprelation with the drive Wheel, and means erative engagement, means automatically opfor controlling the driving Wheel to bring erable to release the drive Wheel and move the same in or out of engagement With said 10 the same to an inoperative position, said flange at Will. first-mentioned drive Wheel provided with In testimony whereof, I have hereunto a flanged portion engageable by the driving signed my name.

Wheel when it is out of its normal engaging CLAUDE L. POST. 

